Disposable heroes: how Muizzu administration is shredding military reputations for political cover
Following electoral losses, Muizzu is reportedly forcing the resignations of veteran officials in state-owned enterprises to deflect public anger over policy failures. High-profile figures like Faruhath Shaheer have been used as scapegoats for controversial decisions, such as price hikes, despite their history of disciplined service. This strategy of orchestrating humiliating exits for decorated professionals is being criticized as a move to protect the administration's image.
Retired Brigadier General Faruhath Shaheer resigned as CEO of MIFCO in April 2026. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
From decorated veterans to political scapegoats
Under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the trend of installing highly decorated military veterans into the upper echelons of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and ministries initially looked like a masterstroke. The public originally cheered the decision to hand over critical national reins to seasoned professionals, particularly retired Brigadier Generals. However, the harsh reality of the political swamp has quickly turned that prestige into a liability. The honor these men spent decades building is now being traded for political survival, as mounting allegations of misconduct leave their lifelong reputations in tatters and their integrity under heavy fire.
The price of electoral humiliation
The government’s obsession with unchecked hiring and blatant promotion cycles within SOEs has finally backfired, fueling a fire of public resentment. This dissatisfaction manifested clearly in the disastrous results of the Local Council elections, the Women's Development Committee (WDC) elections and the recent public referendum. Despite the administration’s lofty projections, the polls delivered a humiliating blow. In the fallout, a convenient pattern of resignations has emerged among SOE chiefs. It is a poorly kept secret that these departures are anything but voluntary; they are the result of direct marching orders from the President’s office.
The canned fish fall guy
A prime example of this sacrificial strategy is the exit of Retired Brigadier General Faruhath Shaheer from his role as Managing Director of MIFCO. Shaheer stepped down on 12 April 2026, just days after a massive public outcry over a canned fish price hike on April 6. Adding insult to damage, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed claimed on April 8 that the price surge happened behind the government's back. This narrative is widely dismissed as a total fabrication, especially given the incumbent’s own past boasts that his appointees are trusted loyalists who never deviate from his executive commands. The minister’s attempt to deflect heat was seen as a messy PR stunt, leaving Faruhath to take the fall for the controversy.
Puppets or professionals?
The list of distinguished figures being squeezed out continues to grow. Retired Major Mohamed Najah at Fenaka and Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohamed Rishwan at MPL are men defined by their career-long discipline and strict adherence to the chain of command. The idea that these specific professionals would go rogue and make high-level decisions without official government clearance is laughable. While their management skills might be debated, the notion that they would defy a direct order from Muizzu is highly improbable.
Dignity sacrificed for strategy
It is a pathetic spectacle to watch individuals who served the nation with unwavering loyalty for decades have their names dragged through the mud the moment they touch a political appointment. By subjecting these veterans to baseless accusations and orchestrating their humiliating exits, the administration is effectively erasing the respect they earned from the people. Sacrificing the dignity of the country’s most distinguished national servants just to facilitate a political maneuver is a profound injustice to those who gave their lives to the service of the state.
